Wire-stretcher.



' J. G. HALL.

WIRE STRBTCHER.

APPLICATION FILED JULYSO, 1910. Y

LMAM'K Patented Feb. 13,1912.

tinrrnn s'rarns Parana ora ion.

JOHANN G. HALL, @F GABDAR TOWNSHIP, PEMBINA COUNTY, NORTH DAKOTA. v

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 13,1912.

Application filed July 30, 1910. Serial No. 574,692.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHANN G. HALL,

a citizen of the United States, residing in the component elements ofthe stretcher to ut the wires under tension.

Another object of the invention is to provide an operating member ofnovel and improved form, and to devise novel means for assembling theoperating member with those elements of the structure which it isadapted to actuate.

The drawings show typical embodiments merely, and changes, properlyfalling within the scope of what is claimed, may be made withoutdeparting from the spirit of the invention.

In the accompanying drawings,Figure 1 shows the wire stretcher in sideelevation; Fig. 2 is a section taken longitudinally of the operatingmember, parts being shown in elevation; and Fig. 3 is a fragmental sideelevation of one of the arms, parts being broken away, the viewillustrating an opposite side of one of the arms, from that depicted inFig. 1.

In carrying out the invention there are provided, as primary andfundamental elements, a pair of arms 1. These arms 1 are curved towardeach other adjacent one end, as shownat 2, and are pivotally united by asuitable element 3 adapted to that end.

Upon the other ends of the arms 1, angularly disposed heads 4 arefashioned, the heads 4 projecting laterally from the arms 1, andoverhanging the side faces of the same. Cams 5 are united by means ofpivot. elements 6 with the arms 1, these cams 5 being adapted tocooperate with the heads 4 engaging the ends of the wires which are tobe stretched. The cams 5 may readily be swung backwardly, so that thewires, which are denoted by the numeral 9, may be inserted within thecontour of the heads 4, whereupon the cams 5 may be swung intoengagement with the wires .9, to bind the same securely against theheads 4. These cams 5 are'provided with outstanding studs 7 whereby theymay be swung to and fro as occasion may demand, the end faces of thecams 5 being serrated, as denoted by the numeral 8, in order to providea stronger hold upon the wires9.

The invention further includes a pair of brackets 10 and 11. Thesebrackets 10 and 11 are rectangular in general outline. Pivot elements 12unite one flange of each of the brackets 9 and 10 with one of the arms1, so that the brackets may move freely upon the arms. The bracket whichis denoted specificallyby the numeral 10, is provided with a threadedopening, while any bracket to which the numeral 11 is applied, isprovided with a smooth opening. An operating.

member is shown, the same consisting of a straight shank, threaded atone end, as shown at 14, opening ofthe bracket 10. The intermediateportion of the shank of the operating member is adapted to rotate freelyin the unthreaded' opening in the bracket 11. The shank of the operatingmember is provided with a shoulder 15, held in place by a setscrew 50,the shoulder 15 being adapted to bear against one face of the bracket11. A tube 16 is slipped over the straight shank of the operatingmember, and cooperates with the shoulder 15 in preventing the operatingmember from sliding longitudinally inthe bracket 11. This tube 16 isheld in place by a collar 17 threaded to engage the for engagement inthe threaded 7 threaded portion 14 of the shank of the opcrating member.If desired, the collar 17 may be held in place by means of a set screw18.

The operating member is terminally extended beyond the arms 1, at oneside of the device, and is provided with a laterally extending crankportion 19, and with a terminal straight portion 20, alined axially withthe threadedshank 14. Upon the end of thistermina-lportion 20, a thrustplate 21 is rotatably mounted; the operating member in general outlineresembling abit stock. To one of the arms 1, a chain 2-2, or otherflexible element is secured. This flexible element terminates in asupport-engaging member of some sort, such, for instance, as a hook 23.

In practical operation, the wires 9 are introduced between the cams?)and'the overhanging heads 4. One hand of the operator hold of the cams 5upon the wires 9 will be increased, and the arms 1 will be drawn towardeach other at their free ends. Thus, the wires 9 will be tightened,whereupon their free ends may be secured together. in

. any desired manner, the cams being then loosened from the wires.

By'reason of the fact that the brackets 10 and 11 are pivotally mountedupon the 3 arms, the operating member is permitted to exercise itsfunction withoutbinding, as the angle between the arms 1 is lessened.

Sometimes the device may be employed, not to stretch-a pair of wires,but to draw one wire toward a fixed support. In such instance, the wireis engaged at that end of oally applied in Fig. l. The

the device to which the letter A, is specifihook 23 is then engaged'by afixed support of any sort, and when the operating member is put intomotion, the wire will be tightened, and after having been tightened, maybe spiked into a post or the like.

That arm 1 which carries the bracket 11, may be denominated the primaryarm; and that arm 1 which carries the bracket 10, may be denominated thesecondary arm. It is to be noted that the bracket 11 is fartherfrom thefree end of the primary arm than isthe bracket 10 from the free end ofthe secondary arm. Moreover, the tension member 22 is pivoted to thesecondary arm between the bracket 10 and the pivotal connection 3between the two arms. Because the brackets 10 and 11 are spaced atunequal distances from the free, ends of the arms upon which they aremounted, the operating arms, and diagonally of the wire which is.

that the said member. will be disposed diagonally of the to bestretched. The crank portion 19 will therefore be spaced apart from thewire, so crank portion may be rotated readily. Moreover, if the tensionmember 22 is connected with a support, this tension I member and thewire will tend to move into the connection 3, the crank 19 will be swungaway from the wire,

-' tightened. The wire stretcher,

alinement when the wire is stretched. Since the tension member 22 ispivoted to the secondary arm between the bracket 10 and when the wire istherefore, c'onside'red'as an entity, is so constructed that when thewire is tightened, the crank portion 19 will of a certainty, be spacedfar enough from the wire, to permit the ready rotation of the said crankportion 19.

The device, although simple in construction, and of few parts, presentsa wire' stretcher of high eificiency, and one which is well adapted toreceive and withstand the severe usage commonly imposed upon devices ofthis class.

The collar 17 may be spaced slightly from the end of the tube 16, thecollar, under such circumstances, being held rigidly upon the operatingmember by means of the set screw or securing device 18.- Under suchcircumstances, the tube 16 will coeperate with the shoulder 15 inholding the operating member against longitudinal movement in thebracket 11; however, the tube 16 will-be rotatable upon the operatingmember. Under such circumstances, one hand of 'the operator may beengaged with the crank portion 19 of the operating member, the otherhand of the operating member being placed upon the tube 16, in whichtube, the operating member will rotate freely. The tube 16, therefore,will serve as a hand hold, whereby the wire stretcher will be steadied.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is A wire stretcherincluding an operating member having a crank and a threaded end and ashoulder located between the crank and the threaded end; and means formounting the operating member, whereby a tightening of the wire willoperate to swlng the crank portion of the operating member clear of thewire, for rotation; said means including primary and secondary armspivotally connected at one end, brackets pivoted to the arms, thebracket of the primary arm beinglocated at a greater distance from thefree end of the primary arm than is the bracket 0f the secondary armfrom the free end of the secondary arm, the threaded portion of theoperating member :being engaged with the bracket of the secondary arm,the shoulder of the operating member being engaged with the bracket ofthe primary arm, wire-engaging means at the free end of the primary arm,and a,ten sion member pivoted to the secondary arm. between the bracketof the secondary arm and the pivotal connection between the arms. Intestimony .that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto afiixedmy signature in the presence of two witnesses.

JOHANN G. HALL. Witnesses:

' JoNA's HALL,

MARGARET A.'JOHNSON.

